I think the problem is the Pats are relying on too many rookies. Spikes and Mackenzie both have potential but are untried in the Pats D and at NFL level. BB needed/needs to bring in a veteran to help out.

Cant wait to see both these players in preseason games - i think more than ever patriots fans should be interested in these preseason games. so many position battles. Between Spikes and McKenzie it will be fun to see how they match up to NFL talent.

garytx - you are dead on! How could BB pass on Mike Oher of Ole Miss! He would protect Brady for 10 years! ALL pro this year, my guess. Re McKenzie and Spikes, I think they will both get a goodly number of reps, with Guyton limited to 3rd down passing downs only.

"McKenzie, an inside linebacker, made quite the impact on Friday at Patriots training camp when he stuffed Laurence Maroney on a goal line situation, knocking the veteran running back squarely back at the goal line and keeping him out of the end zone. " Let's not judge his performance on stuffing Laura Maroney. The league has been doing just that for 4 years.Posted by Tcal2

garytx - you are dead on! How could BB pass on Mike Oher of Ole Miss! He would protect Brady for 10 years! ALL pro this year, my guess. Re McKenzie and Spikes, I think they will both get a goodly number of reps, with Guyton limited to 3rd down passing downs only.Posted by fyyankees

How could he pass on Oher? Well honestly speaking in that moment of the draft I was saying the same thing. However, the Patriots drafted Vollmer 35 or 36 picks later, saved a boat load of cash and in the same rookie season vastly outperformed Oher according to pro football focus.

Who do you think will line up next to Mayo? To be honest last year I thought Mckenzie was going to be the starter before tearing his ACL - when he was drafted in 09 Belichick raved about how instinctive he can be. He played for 3 Division I schools and made all conference teams. However, we got a new hummer in our garage called Brandon Spikes. He was a bonafide star at Florida and in college. Id love to see him square someone up every Sunday. No matter who starts next to Mayo I think we are in for a treat. Who do you guys think will start?Posted by Boston-kyle

It will be Spikes, as long as he gets most of his "uniqueness" under control. BB likes that he does some things his own way, but Spikes needs to limit the risks in going his own way. He is a gifted natural, instinctive player who sees the plays unfolding. Spikes is the bigger upside of the two.

Spikes sounds like a Junior Seau, Seau was beat up a bit for doing things his own way, being a pile jumper, excessive selibrations like his rediculous fist pump after every tackle or busted play behind the line of scrimmage...

I would say BB is not foreign to unconventional LBer play as Brian Cox and Roman Phifer were not A typical 3-4 guys.

Spikes play can help him but the first time he is found out of position on a busted play that goes yard he is going to be benched and who knows what that will do to his confidence

Either way, can we go wrong? I am also fo the school of thought wherein Guyton, McKenzie and Spikes all get significant time alongside Mayo. If I had to choose, I would think that McKenzie has a leg up.